BidBoard and LA APEX Accelerator Team Up for Vendor Recruitment

Because a strong vendor base is key to success at BidBoard Procurement Network, LaMATS has partnered with the nonprofit Louisiana Procurement Technical Assistance Center (LA APEX Accelerator), located on the campus of ULL, a move that will bring news of local government bids to hundreds of contract-ready Louisiana product and service providers.

LA APEX Accelerator, a free service that offers specialized assistance to Louisiana businesses seeking contracts with federal, state and local governments, has facilitated more than $8.6 billion in contract awards for its clients since 1989. The new partnership with LaMATS BidBoard will give LA APEX Accelerator clients immediate access to LMA members' sealed bids and reverse auction opportunities by automatically pulling BidBoard postings into its popular bid matching database and helping vendors understand and respond to local government solicitations.

"Pairing up with LA APEX Accelerator is a natural match," said LaMATS Procurement Director Paul Holmes. "As LaMATS posts bid opportunities for municipal members, their local vendors and contractors will receive notice of the opportunity by having registered, free of charge, with LA APEX Accelerator. This should increase responses to member solicitations and expand access to new business for LA APEX Accelerator clients.

Sherrie Mullins, LA APEX Accelerator Program Manager agrees. "We have a common goal to make municipal bids easily available to Louisiana small businesses," said Mullins. "Our vision is that the LAMATS BidBoard System will become a dynamic list of municipal bid opportunities to share with Louisiana companies, therefore expanding their opportunities for success in the government marketplace and boosting the economy of Louisiana."

To take advantage of this new partnership, LaMATS encourages all Louisiana vendors interested in doing business with local government to register with LA APEX Accelerator through its online application form.

Applicants to the site will be matched with a counselor and included in LA APEX Accelerator's bid matching program, which conducts customized lead searches based on vendor needs and geography and will now include all current solicitations from participants in the LaMATS BidBoard Procurement Network.

LMA member municipalities that wish to participate in the BidBoard should register for access at lamatsbidboard.com or contact Paul Holmes via email at paul@lamats.net.